Nebraska football: Special teams once again a killer for the Huskers

The Nebraska football team looked bad on offense, defense and special teams in a 24-13 loss to Troy that brought more questions than answers.

Yes, Andrew Bunch was bad, but if ever there has been a team loss, Nebraska football underlined what that looks like. The Cornhuskers came into the game knowing they were going to be starting a walk-on quarterback.

The team knew it was going to have to step up on defense. Knew it was going to have to be able to dominate on the ground.

The team knew it was going to have to correct mistakes like penalties and poor special teams play. Instead, it came out and played arguably worse than it did a week ago.

For the second straight week, stupid penalties and an abysmal performance on special teams were the difference. It’s time to take a good long look at what’s going on with the Special Teams unit especially.

The Huskers had a new kicker to start the game, with Barrett Pickering getting replaced after his missed field goal against Colorado. Cole Frahm began his Husker career the same way Pickering did, by missing a chipshot field goal.

Turns out that, and a punt return for a touchdown by Troy were the difference makers. For the second straight week, a made field goal would have changed the entire complexion of the fourth quarter.

More than that, a team that continues to shoot itself in the foot is a real problem for a staff many expected to iron out those kinds of issues. They are far from ironed out right now. It feels like they’re getting worse.

Thanks to the Akron cancellation, the Nebraska football team is, for now, winless in non-conference. I don’t think anyone saw that coming. Next week they travel to Michigan looking like a team with more questions than answers.